“I'd rather see us win by more than three points. But if it comes down to it, I'll be ready,” Prater said Thursday. “I'd prefer an outright win.”

While Prater heads into Sunday's title game with an inordinate amount of confidence after a nearly perfect season, he also understands a kicker's lot in life — especially in the Super Bowl. For every Adam Vinatieri, there's a Scott “Wide Right” Norwood of the Buffalo Bills.

A case can be made that Norwood's notoriety from his flub in Super Bowl XXV exceeds the fame of the New England Patriots' hero in the 2001 and 2003 Super Bowls.

“I say to myself, 'You miss a kick, what's the worst thing that can happen?' Some people might take it personal and not like you. But you can't be perfect,” Prater said. “You try to be confident and make every one of them, but you can't.”

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Kicking the winning field goal, though, would be the perfect ending for a season that has elevated Prater to elite status. He set an NFL record with his 64-yard field goal against the Tennessee Titans in Week 14. He connected on 25-of-26 field goals in the regular season and is 5-of-6 so far in the postseason.

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